[thetonka]

I was thinking the other day and my mind wondered to a subject I had not thought about in a while. That of pulling the leaf springs out and putting in a completely linked suspension with air bags front and rear. I would not be looking at much lift if any, more interested in the ride quality, stability, and traction. I was thinking 4 link with panhard or other side to side placement for both front and rear. For bags I was looking at singles up front but doubles in the rear. One set for empty driving to keep it riding nice, and another set to air up when I needed the load capacity.

Anyone do this? I was just thinking but I would love to see pics of real world setups, and hear any accounts of how well you like it.

Thanks

 

[00PSD1]

Hey Mike

I got a 4 linked air rear suspension. The ride is bouncy at least with no load in the back but once you put 500 lbs or more it rides really soft. However with the system I have the bags are either fully inflated or fully deflated. On my old truck I had air bags also if I let some air out the ride was considerably softer.

I can take pics for you of the setup or if you want to meet up around Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana beach area I could do that.

-
Andrew

 

[thetonka]

Should do that sometime. I've been meaning to check out your truck. I remember seeing a setup once where a guy have 4 bags in the rear. He would deflate one on each side and be left with a really light back on each rear wheel. This would give him a great ride. If he needed the extra weight capacity he would air up the other bags. The bags were also mounted at different points so they geometry was different.

Would love to see pics.

 

[kainers]

Then you can say you've met the ANDREW

 

[00PSD1]

Hey Mike

I think I have seen the same setup you are talking about. I will take pics tomorrow and put them on my webshots tomorrow night. Let me know when you want to get together I will take you for a spin in my turd bucket

-
Andrew

 

[thetonka]

Im sure your turd bucket runs better than mine right now.

 

[00PSD1]

what happened to yours?

 

[thetonka]

Got a couple of leaks, both exhaust(even tho I just had everything replace), and in the boost side. Add to that 239K on the stock injectors and its just not running as well as it could. I'll be putting in ACs this next year along with a 6L CAC, fuel system, F5, exhaust and probably a SVO setup. Lots to do, not a lot of money, and it's always gotta tow the big hauler.

 

[roosterdiesel]

Anyone here using this??? It's only $1800.

http://www.airliftcompany.com/road_tamer.html


Wonder how it would hook up on the track.

 

[JAKE]

best thing you could ever do to the truck mine is all the way around with reverse sleeve bags on both axles, just need single bags if ya go big enough. its pricey to do but i love it. best ride ever.

mine is a parrellel 4 link with panhards, bigger sway bars and differnt shocks with some more rebound damping are reccomended

 

[00PSD1]

Jake do you have pictures of your setup?

Rooster I have never used that setup. I have no axle wrap with my setup.

-
Andrew

 

[JAKE]

not right now i dont, im in the middle of changin a bunch of things on it and as soon as im done ill get some more pics up. the original pics that i had i lost on my old hard drive damn computers. right now im setting it up for a bit of lift and using a differnt rod end i was using 3" poly bushing and want more side flex and more lift. yeah no axle wrap here. even with a 15k trailer behind it givin it hell

 

[thetonka]

I've seen that road tamer setup and really don't like the angles. I free that thing would have quite a bit of axle wrap with the bags aired up especially under full power. I would definitely do a 4-link with panhards.

Interestingly we were out yesterday and I commented on how nice a short bed F250 look that we saw in the parking lot. It have a 6" on it. The wife agreed and asked how much it would cost to do that to my truck. 6" is a bit more than I would want to go but 4" with a level stance and 35s would be great. One of the big complaints I have with my truck is the blocks in the rear so ANY mods I do will start with getting rid of them.

I really want something that rides nice, has adjustability, and can handle 1500lbs + of tongues weight. May be more if I put a 100+ gallon tank in the bed.

 

[JAKE]

the bags im runnin are good to 3200 a piece, i have had the 36' gn flatbed with 20 #1000 round bales i think my tounge wieght was probably pushin 5k i didnt go far just from the fields to the barn. but normal towin conditions my 15k horse trailer has close to 2k of tounge wieght. and i have a 50gal diesel tank on the back of the truck.

im using 1.5" .25wall dom tubing 36" long with daystar's superpivots on both ends of the bars. with all the brackets made out of 1/4" cold roll steel the bags are centered over the axles so there is no acceleration lift like you see in semi trucks and alot of the bolt on 4 link systems. pirate4x4.com has a 4 link calculator to see how the suspension will be affected by differnt angles of your bars for us the closer to level the bars at normal ride hieght. mine is all adjustable from inside the cab, its great for hitchin up the gn trailers since i air down back under air up pull out the foot and ready to go. no more crankin a jack! i haul my horse trailer or the stock trailer usually 4 or more days a week. ive got tons of miles on the original setup the new way im just going to the superpivots on both ends of the bars and a bit more ground clearance. its definatley a project but worth it